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The most prolific business man you've never heard of:
This is the story of my friend Larry Janesky and how he became the world's foremost expert on basement waterproofing, the Tony Robbins of home improvement contractors, famous desert racer, coach, author and more.
Let's go:
This is the story of my friend Larry Janesky and how he became the world's foremost expert on basement waterproofing, the Tony Robbins of home improvement contractors, famous desert racer, coach, author and more.
Let's go:
Larry grew up on the 2nd floor of a 3 family home in Bridgeport CT on food stamps with his mom, siblings, and alcoholic step dad.
As a child he found he had a knack for business when he started selling seeds door to door in addition to delivering papers.
When he started driving he found the life changing knowledge of audio cassette tapes by the likes of Earl Nightingale and Zig Ziglar. These tapes inspired him to dream big and planted the seeds for what came next in his life.
By the time he was 18 he had learned carpentry and moved in with his grandfather.
Larry put an ad in the paper that said "Carpentry: Call Larry. No job too small."
He got his first big lead...
Larry put an ad in the paper that said "Carpentry: Call Larry. No job too small."
He got his first big lead...
A guy wanted him to build a house. Larry had never built a whole house before but knew he could figure it out.
Luckily all of the other "real" contractors were busy because there was a housing boom at this time so he got the job.
Luckily all of the other "real" contractors were busy because there was a housing boom at this time so he got the job.
After this his home building business started booming.
Eventually one of the homes he built had a cracked, leaking foundation that needed to be fixed.
Unsatisfied with the other basement waterproofing products available at the time, he developed and patented his own.
Eventually one of the homes he built had a cracked, leaking foundation that needed to be fixed.
Unsatisfied with the other basement waterproofing products available at the time, he developed and patented his own.
Larry saw a huge opportunity to provide his products to other basement waterproofing contractors.
In the early 1990s Basement Systems was born.
In the early 1990s Basement Systems was born.
His products were good but what really set Larry and his team apart was how they would help other basement contractors take their business to the next level.
They eventually started a nationwide dealer network while continuing to operate their local division.
They eventually started a nationwide dealer network while continuing to operate their local division.
They kept growing and growing, moving to 5 different facilities in 11 years. Eventually Larry bought the largest chunk of commercial land he could find so he could start to build his dream headquarters.
They now have a 9 building campus. The newest building which was completed in 2019 is state of the art and like the Google headquarters of home improvement.
In 2014 his house burned to the ground. Luckily, nobody was hurt but his family lost everything inside. The one thing that made it out was Larry's most prized possession...his lifetime of personal journals that he had kept in a safe.
"What I know is this: Your wealth is in you. It's what you know. Everything you have outside of you is a manifestation of what you have inside of you. Outside things will come and go. Nobody's getting out alive so what are you going to do while you're here?" - Larry Janesky
Larry now owns 13 companies under his "Contractor Nation" umbrella:
1. Basement Systems
2. Clean Space
3. Dr. Energy Saver
4. Total Basement Finishing
5. Attic Systems Insulation
6. National Radon Defense
7. The Junkluggers
8. Klaus Roofing Systems
1. Basement Systems
2. Clean Space
3. Dr. Energy Saver
4. Total Basement Finishing
5. Attic Systems Insulation
6. National Radon Defense
7. The Junkluggers
8. Klaus Roofing Systems
9. Gutter Shutter
10. Treehouse Internet Group
11. HomeProMatch
12. MoreHouse Finance
13. The School of Entrepreneurship
10. Treehouse Internet Group
11. HomeProMatch
12. MoreHouse Finance
13. The School of Entrepreneurship
I met Larry though my local crossfit gym 5 years ago. We became friends and I'm also very close with with his son Tanner who is one of the smartest engineering minds I know.
Larry doesn't know it but he has changed my life through the legacy of knowledge he has left behind.
Larry doesn't know it but he has changed my life through the legacy of knowledge he has left behind.
The great thing about Larry is you don't have to personally know him to benefit from his knowledge.
Start with his book: "The Highest Calling" - It's a business book told in the form of a story. This is a MUST read for any new contractor or small business owner.
Start with his book: "The Highest Calling" - It's a business book told in the form of a story. This is a MUST read for any new contractor or small business owner.
The audio version of the book is really great. They put a ton of work into the production with background noise to set the scene, plus Larry narrates it. https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Highest-Calling-Audiobook/B01BO0YDFW
Next, move on to his albums which are available on Apple Music and Spotify. These are spoken word motivational tracks put to music. It may sound cheesy but they're good.
The first album is "Masterpiece" (my favorite track is the last one on the album, also titled Masterpiece.)
The first album is "Masterpiece" (my favorite track is the last one on the album, also titled Masterpiece.)
The second one is "Invictus". Same concept as above. My favorite track on this one is titled Ethic.
Oh, I almost forgot. He has been writing 2 daily blog posts (M-F) for 15 years straight! I'd compare his blog posts to Seth Godin's style. Short and to the point.
It's called "Think Daily". There is one about business and one about life each day. https://www.thinkdaily.com/
It's called "Think Daily". There is one about business and one about life each day. https://www.thinkdaily.com/
If you're not a business person but love a great father/son story, check out the cinema quality youtube documentary about Larry and Tanner's journey racing (and winning) the Baja 1000 desert race.
It has over 3 million views (like I said, prolific).
It has over 3 million views (like I said, prolific).
Larry's 7 Qualities of Winner:
1. Believe in yourself
2. We become what we think about - control your thoughts
3. Have a clear vision of where you're going - set goals
4. Be positive
1. Believe in yourself
2. We become what we think about - control your thoughts
3. Have a clear vision of where you're going - set goals
4. Be positive
5. Take action now - have a sense of urgency
6. Work hard, be disciplined and have integrity
7. Be nice to people, even people you don't understand
6. Work hard, be disciplined and have integrity
7. Be nice to people, even people you don't understand
I'll end with this. He doesn't need to share his story or what has worked for him but he does and I'm extremely grateful for that.
Success leaves clues. Thankfully the world is full of people like Larry who are an open book and help lift up others along the way.
Success leaves clues. Thankfully the world is full of people like Larry who are an open book and help lift up others along the way.
